Feng Shui careers

"Deal with things in their state of not-yet-being put them in order before they have got into confusion" The secret of Feng Shui Tao Te Ching, Ch 64

The craft of Feng Shui being multi-faceted affords great scope career-wise. But it also subjects one to the rigours associated with the Martial Arts, and the timeline of a medic. Ultimately, it should have 10 stages of progress, each increasingly more difficult, yet bestowing wider responsibility and wisdom with each accomplished step, paralleling the progress of the sorcerer's apprentice.

The Feng Shui training program: initially, some form of yoga, T'ai Chi and meditation to gain physical discipline, concentration, sensitization and insight. Next, a lifetime study of the I Ching, the quintessence of Chinese wisdom and Jin-Shu, the biographies of famous Feng Shui masters.

After which Kanya, the study of heaven and earth, the combined study of geography and astrology in relationship to man. Following which, mastering the Compass School -, the use of the Ba Gua diagram and the Lo P'an compass featuring the 'twenty-four directions' or 15 degree zones of the magnetic circle to help determine the Feng Shui of the situation, and the use of astrological charts and numerology to measure the auspiciousness of a dwelling.

Following this a study of the tenets of the Form school such as Dimai, the dynamics of mountain ridges, valleys, and rivers, and of the arteries of the earth - the 'Dragon Veins'. The examination of the Classics detailing the interrelationship between water, mountains, dwellings and agriculture such as the Water Dragon, which relates the optimum landscape-water interaction e.g. an ideal site, should nestle among watercourses, or the Shui Jing delineating the waterways of China, giving a wealth of information regarding harmony between buildings and landscapes. A general course in human and colour psychology, then perhaps specialization in the use of the I Ching for divination, or Chinese alchemy.

Thus equipped one should be able to offer one's services as follows.

Siting a home

Auspicious siting Banishing sha qi - negative energy Diverting water lines and neutralising other forms of geopathic energy Dowsing and harmonising the dragon veins Diverting 'spirits'

Harmonising the home

Apply the Ba Gua diagram for orientation purposes Interior d?cor and the optimum psychological colour combinations Choosing the best fabrics, and materials Advice on water devices, wind-chimes, crystals, aromatic oils and incenses Avoiding angles, enhancing the circular Placement of fish and plants etc.

Harmonising relationships

Individual and synastric (relational) astrological analysis Yin-yang profiling Taoist philosophy.

Individual destiny

Using western and Chinese astrology, its stems and branches, and numerology to delineate destiny and life paths. Finding the best burial place

General counselling

Using the I Ching and the Lo P'an compass for divination and advice.

One could pursue this occupation on a freelance basis, professionally or corporately. It would be advisable, at regular intervals, to take refresher courses, degree courses, or specialize in order to become a consultant, or councillor. Your level of remuneration would depend upon which one of the 3 employment tracks above you followed. Alternatively, if you were part of a Chinese medical consortia or astrological consultancy, your income would rise proportionally.

Simple Feng Shui Bedroom Tips

A bedroom is supposed to be a sanctuary, a place where we can go to recharge tired batteries and rest. Unfortunately, for many people, the bedroom has bad Feng Shui and does not provide the rest, relaxation, and recharging that it should. The bedroom is also supposed to be a place of romance and connection with a special someone. Good Feng Shui can help to light the fires of romance, and make the bedroom more than just a place to hang your clothes.

The good news is, it's easy to map your bedroom according to good Feng Shui principles. You can create peace, tranquility, harmony, and romance in your bedroom. Here are some good Feng Shui tips to help in your bedroom.

The first step is to draw an outline of your bedroom on a piece of paper. Make the room roughly square, it doesn't have to be perfect. The main entrance to the room should be on the lower line of the square that you have drawn.

Next, draw three rows of three squares each, dividing the square into nine equal pieces.

Starting with the lowest row, you have the area of Knowledge in the left corner, the area of Career in the center, and the area of Help People and Travel on the right side. These three squares describe the area when you first walk into the bedroom.

The middle row of square describe the center of your bedroom. The left side is Family and Health, the center is considered the Tao, or Center, and the right hand square is the Creativity and Children section.

The top row of squares are, from left to right, the Wealth sector, Fame and Reputation in the center, and Relationships and Romance on the right.

So now, looking at your layout on the paper, it should be divided like this:

Wealth | Fame/Reputation | Relationships/Romance

Family/Health | Tao | Creativity/Children

Knowledge | Career | Helpful People/Travel

So now that you have your room organized, let's look at some objects that could be placed in those sectors to create the desired effect.

In the Knowledge sector, place some bookshelves or a bookcase. Fill it with books and other tools of self-improvement such as DVDs or audio books.

In the Career Sector, mirrors will help to reflect positive Chi, or energy and keep it flowing through your career. Water related items also help good Chi to pool in that area, increasing the opportunities in your career. If you have any pictures or objects that help to define your career goals, place them in this sector as well.

In the Helpful People and Travel sector put pictures of people who can or have helped you. Also place pictures of places you would like to visit, or places you have been and enjoyed.

The Family and Health sector is the best place to keep family heirlooms and photos. Keep plants in this area as well and make sure they thrive. Anything dead or dried is considered very bad Feng Shui, so make sure Flowers are fresh and do not display dried floral arrangements.

The Creativity and Children sector is the best place for your art supplies, any artwork you have done or are working on, and your computer, if you have one in your bedroom. Generally it is considered bad Feng Shui to have working materials in your bedroom, but if you must, this is the place.

In the Wealth sector is the place to keep your money, jewelry, or other things valuable. If you have fish, you should keep them here as they are thought to bring prosperity in this sector. The colors red, purple, and gold are also used to increase prosperity in the wealth sector.

Keep any Awards you might have in the Fame and Reputation sector. Candles are also good here along with plants, and the colors red, orange, or purple.

Finally, in the Relationships and Romance sector, place round or oval mirrors to keep the good Chi flowing. Pictures of loved ones are good here, along with the color pink. Feng Shui believes that pairs of ducks are good because ducks mate for life. If you don't like ducks, any paired objects like candlesticks or small statues will help create good Feng Shui in this area of your life.

Since our bedroom is such a reflection of who we are and what we value, it is important to start your journey to good Feng Shui here. In time, with some of these Feng Shui bedroom tips in place, you will see improvements in the areas where you are looking for help.

Charles Chang is a Feng Shui enthusiast and author. He enjoys helping others with feng shui through his articles and website.